Crime Laboratory Coordinator

City of Tucson (AZ) • Tucson, AZ

43d • $35 - $53

About The Position

The Crime Laboratory Coordinator supervises and oversees personnel and scientific analysis for one or more forensic disciplines within an accredited crime laboratory. This position is responsible for assigning daily casework operations and supervising forensic scientists who conduct highly specialized forensic analysis of evidentiary items utilizing chemical, microscopic, or chromatographic techniques and instrumentation to examine, identify, and evaluate physical evidence related to criminal investigations for the police department. Employees in this classification play a critical role in ensuring unit compliance with quality assurance and laboratory accreditation standards, enforcing laboratory policies, and contributing to the overall mission of delivering accurate and timely forensic services for the Crime Lab's law enforcement partners and the criminal justice system in Southern Arizona This classification may include any of the listed duties, knowledge, skills, or other characteristics. This list is illustrative only and is not a comprehensive listing of all duties and tasks performed by incumbents of this class. Work assignments may vary depending on department needs.

Requirements

• Candidates must have a bachelor's degree in a biology-, chemistry- or forensic science-related area
• Candidates must have at least 6 years of forensic laboratory (or directly-related) experience.
• Must provide a DNA sample for the staff database.
• Successful completion of a background check by the FBI is required for use of the CODIS database.
• Must obtain the applicable Arizona Criminal Justice Information System Network Terminal Operator Certification within six months of hire and maintain throughout the duration of their employment.

Nice To Haves

• Completion of the ANAB (ANSI National Accreditation Board) Forensic Internal Auditor or External Assessor ISO/IEC 17025 training.
• Completion of the FBI's DNA Quality Assurance Standard (QAS) auditor training.
• Demonstrated experience with conducting internal audits of forensic biology/DNA laboratory operations.
• Demonstrated experience with conducting external assessments of forensic biology/DNA laboratory operations.
• Demonstrated experience with assisting with and/or performing validations in a forensic biology/DNA setting.
• Demonstrated experience with training of forensic biology/DNA personnel.
• Training and/or experience with grant submission and management, to include the Bureau of Justice Assistance Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction(CEBR) grant.
• Completion of continuing education and development specific to leadership, management, and training, from providers such as American Society of Crime Lab Directors (ASCLD), Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCoE), GAP Science, City of Tucson Ignite, or equivalent.
• Demonstrated leadership, management and supervisory experience in a forensic biology/DNA setting of an accredited crime laboratory.
• Demonstrated experience as an examiner in a forensic biology/DNA setting of an accredited crime laboratory.

Responsibilities

• Supervises a team of forensic professionals in one or more scientific disciplines. Assigns, coordinates, and determines priorities of work including scheduling, assigning, and reviewing requests for casework examination to ensure balanced workloads and adherence to turnaround times. Supervises the operation of national databases (including AFIS, CODIS, and NIBIN), if applicable. Ensures laboratory safety. Ensures timely delivery of results and serves as a point of contact for internal and external customers of the Crime Lab.
• Implements controls for appropriate unit staffing and effectiveness by participating with Human Resources in the recruitment, hiring and onboarding of employees, setting expectations, evaluating and managing recommendations for employee performance and development, as well as employee discipline. Accompanies personnel to court to review their expert witness testimony. Discusses and identifies personnel matters and facilitating resolutions. Promotes positive morale in the unit. Ensures staff is trained appropriately for expected performance, and provides leadership and guidance to personnel.
• Ensures ANAB (ANSI National Accreditation Board) accreditation standards are implemented and maintained. Assists quality assurance activities and maintenance of the laboratory's quality system by approving standard operating procedures, conducting the annual management review, participating in internal audits and resolution of quality actions.
• Supervises the procurement processes in one or more scientific disciplines by renewing service contracts, taking inventory, ordering, and maintaining records of purchase orders for supplies and consumables received. Develops, implements and monitors training programs for new and current staff in assigned scientific disciplines. Ensures staff maintain technical qualifications and meet continuing education requirements.
• Recommends improvements, reviews needs and approves new equipment, techniques, and procedures instituted within the unit. Oversees the process for validations on new equipment and annual performance checks on established critical equipment.
• Participates in community outreach to include delivering training and tours of the Crime Lab to internal and external customers and stakeholders in the criminal justice system.
• Assists with researching opportunities, submission of applications and post-award management of Federal, State and local grants to include evaluation of goals and objectives, grant reporting, and accountability for the budget which funds projects and personnel paid by grant funding.
• Conducts examination of forensic evidence and provides expert witness testimony in their area of expertise, if needed.
• Performs other duties, as assigned.

Benefits

• The City of Tucson offers a generous benefits package for benefit-eligible positions. The comprehensive, flexible, and affordable coverage is designed to optimize health and well-being, security and future, and peace of mind. Benefits begin with medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and FSA coverage, surpassing your standard 401(k) program by offering a rich pension plan plus optional Roth and pretax deferred compensation savings. With your well-being in mind, our paid time off program provides new hires with 38 paid days off in the first year of employment, with time off increasing steadily in subsequent years. We offer twelve weeks of paid parental leave, paid tuition reimbursement, student loan repayment, off- and on-the-job training, and opportunities to forge connections with peers and the community through employee resource groups and paid volunteer hours. You can learn more about our benefits at https://www.tucsonaz.gov/Departments/Human-Resources/Employee-Benefit-Snapshot.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Industry: Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees